Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Urging Administration to Recognize November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee, joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Administration to issue a Presidential Proclamation recognizing November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.
“As you know, hospice provides expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support for those entering the end of life. Hospices operate in all 50 states, and there are over 4,600 Medicare-certified hospices nationwide,” the Senators wrote. “In addition, hospices extend support to the broader community, providing bereavement services for families impacted by local and national crises.”
“We value and support the work of hospices and palliative care providers in our local communities. These dedicated professionals make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families,” the Senators continued. “As National Hospice and Palliative Care Month approaches, we ask that you join us in recognizing this important work by issuing a Presidential Proclamation.”
As the Chairman of the Aging Committee, Senator Collins has been a longstanding champion of hospice and palliative care. Senator Collins is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act – legislation to ensure our aging population has access to palliative and hospice care from a trained workforce.
This month, Senator Collins received the Friend of Home Health Section Award for her work to support home health care industries in Maine and throughout the country. Last year, she spoke from the Senate floor about two bipartisan bills that would help to preserve and expand access to home health services — the Home Health Payment Innovation Act and the Home Health Planning Improvement Act. Additionally, Senator Collins’ Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to increase the number of geriatric health professionals to support our aging population, was signed into law. She also met with members of the Home Care and Hospice Alliance of Maine to discuss home health care policies and their effect on agencies throughout the State of Maine.
In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
Click HERE to read the full letter.
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